Jacksonville falls to Nashville in rain-filled game

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A strong night from Victor Mesa Jr. was not enough for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp who fell to the Nashville Sounds 6-2 Friday night from 121 Financial Ballpark.

Locked in a 2-2 tie, Capra singled with one out in the fourth. Joey Wiemer walked to put runners at first and second. Following a strikeout, Clarke roped and RBI single to put Nashville ahead 3-2.

Leading 3-2 in the fifth, Nashville’s (40-39, 2-2) offense continued their impressive night. Francisco Mejia doubled to lead off the inning. Following back-to-back flyouts, Chris Roller singled and scored Mejia while also advancing to second on the throw. With a runner at second, Vinny Capra doubled home Roller extending the Sounds lead over Jacksonville (37-42, 2-2) to 5-2.

The Sounds’ bats stayed hot in the later innings. Capra singled to start the eighth. Three batters later, Wes Clarke drove in his second run of the night on a double which made it 6-2.

Nashville opened the scoring in the top of the second. Brewer Hicklen (13) cracked an opposite field home run to put the Sounds ahead 1-0.

The Sounds did not slow down. Isaac Collins led off the third with a double. Wes Clarke followed with a single. With runners at first and third, Hicklen rolled into a fielder’s choice and scored Collins. Following two straight walks, Jumbo Shrimp reliever Matt Andriese (L, 2-4) escaped the inning by turning a double play.

Trailing by two, Jacksonville’s Mesa Jr. ripped a leadoff triple in the bottom of the third. With Troy Johnston at the plate and one out, Nashville starter Aaron Ashby uncorked a wild pitch which brought home Mesa Jr. Johnston quickly singled to put another runner on. Two batters later, Tristan Gray worked a walk. With Marty Costes up to bat, Johnston swiped third. He scored soon after on a passed ball to tie the game at two.

Jacksonville and Nashville will continue the series in Saturday’s 6:35 p.m. contest. RHP Shaun Anderson (0-1, 2.45) will start for Jacksonville and Nashville will counter with LHP DL Hall (0-0, 2.35). Coverage begins at 6:20 p.m. on Bally Live, MLB.tv, MILB.tv, ESPN690, and www.espn690.com.

Gates open at 5:00 p.m. for the Medium Roast Hat giveaway for the first 2,000 people through the gates, presented by Maxwell Coffee House. Make sure to stick around for postgame fireworks also presented by Maxwell Coffee House.

ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins and compete in the International League. The team calls 121 Financial Ballpark home for baseball but also a wide variety of additional community focused events with a goal of providing Affordable, Family, FUN to Northeast Florida. Winners of many marketing and sales awards and recognition since the team was rebranded prior to the 2017 season, the Jumbo Shrimp continually lead the state of Florida in attendance across all minor league professional sports organizations.